Wire winding and stripping mechanism



March 26, 1957 Filed March 18. 1955 P. E. SCH REINER 2,786,639

WIRE WINDING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PAUL E. SCHREINER BY M MM MAW ATTORNEYS P. E. SCHREIN ER 2,786,639

WIRE WINDING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM Filed March 18. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 26, 1957 INVENTOR.

PAUL E. SCHREINER ATTORNEYS' March 26, 1957 P. E. SCHREINER 2,786,639

WIRE WINDING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM 4 she ets-sheet s Filed March 18. 1955 Fig--54 INVENTOR.

PAUL E. SCHREINER ATTORNEYS March 26, 1957 P. E. SICHREINER ,7 9

WIRE WINDING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM Filed March 18. 1955 4 Sheets$'neet 4 INVENTOR. PAUL E. SCHREINER BY M, 04, MAM

ATTORNE YS United States Patent WIRE WINDING AND STRIPPING MECHANISM Paul E. Schreiner, Kokomo, Ind., assignor to Continental Steel Corporation, Kokomo, 11111., a corporation of Indiana Application March 18, 1955, Serial No. 495,183

14 Claims. (Cl. 242-84) the wire into convolutions to form a bundle of the wire.

Draw blocks of this kind find use, for example, in wire drawing operations in which the wire is drawn or pulled through a reducing die, the relatively high degree of tension necessary to pull the wire through the die being produced by tightly wrapping the wire around a friction drum portion of the block. In order that the operation may proceed without interference from the convolutions of wire formed on the block, the convolutions are progressively forced upwardly off the top of the block so as continuously to clear the friction drum for more wire, the convolutions being collected in the form of a bundle above the block. The present invention is directed to an improved mechanism for receiving and collecting these convolutions while the block is being rotated and for thereafter removing the bundle from the vicinity of the block and, at the same time, stripping the block and its friction drum of convolutions of wire remaining thereon.

It has previously been suggested that one way to collect the convolutions of wire from a draw block of the kind referred to above is to rest an upstanding frame on the block so that, as the block and frame are rotated, the same upward thrust that causes the convolutions of wire to be forced off the top of the block will also lift the convolutions upwardly about the frame to form a bundle thereabout. This suggestion has certain very desirable features because the cost of such frames is relatively low and the bundle can be removed from the vicinity of the block by lifting the bundle-laden frame from the block. These are features that are incorporated among those of the apparatus of the present invention. In practice, however, previously known bundle collecting mechanisms utilizing this suggestion have had serious limitations in the size of the bundle that could efliciently be collected on the frame. Economy and efficiency in the processing and handling of bundles of wire in a modern wire mill requires that the bundles be of relatively large size, that is, upwards of 2000 pounds or more. Previously known frames of the kind under discussion, however, will not permit bundles of this size to be formed thereon except at relatively low speeds of rotation. At high speeds, such as those economically required when the block is being used to draw wire of small gage, the bundle being formed on the older frame will begin to lift the frame bodily off the block long before the bundle reaches the desired size.

Applicant has discovered that this phenomenon occurs during the use of the previously known structures due to friction between the bundles and the frames resulting from centrifugal forces produced at the higher speeds. The maximum transverse dimension of the frame must of course be somewhat less than the diameter of the convolutions received thereon and, as a result, the convolutions are received on the frame with many or .most of the convolutions disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis about which the block and frame is rotated. As the speed of rotation is increased, centrifugal forces created by these off-center convolutions are brought to bear against the sides of the frame, thereby increasing the friction between the bundle and the frame tending to oppose upward movement of the bundle about the frame. As a result, the bundles have clutched the vertical sides of the older frames at higher speeds and have lifted the frames from their blocks as the forces pushand raise the frame is minimized, thereby permitting large bundles of wire to be collected on the frame at high speeds of rotation without causing the frame to be raised or lifted from the draw block upon which it rests. Yet another object of the invention is to provide in the frame means by which the centrifugal forces created by eccentrically disposed convolutions of wire thereon are utilized to lift the convolutions with respect to the frame and thereby assist the upwardly directed forces pushing the convolutions off the top of the block to raise the bundle of wire about the frame. Another object of the invention is to provide on the frame means for supporting a substantial portion of the dead weight of the bundle during its formation, thereby reducing the effective opposition of the weight of the bundle to the upwardly directed forces pushing the convolutions off the top of the block, and thereby increasing the size of the bundle that can be collected on the frame. Still another object of the invention is to utilize the dead weight of the bundle of wire formed about the frame to anchor the frame upon the block.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide in conjunction with the legs of the frame means for stripping the convolutions of wire from the draw block when the frame with its bundle thereabout are lifted from the block. Yet another objective of the invention is to provide improved means for collapsing the frame and its feet to permit the bundle of wire to fall from the frame after the frame has been removed from the draw block.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a preferred form of the apparatus of the present invention shown in position on a wire draw block, certain parts of the apparatus being cut away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the lower portion of the apparatus and through the block, showing the manner in which the frame for receiving and stripping convolutions of wire from the block is received and supported on the block;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top of the block;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the draw-block taken along line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5A is an elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus in its collapsed condition wherein the convolutions of wire previously received upon the frame from the draw block are permitted to slide vertically down- 3. wardly off' of 'the frame, the frame having been lifted from the draw block;

Fig. B is a cross-sectional view showing the relative position oftheparts ofthelower portion ofthe frame in its, collapsedcondition, the frame being turned 45 from the position shownin Fig, 5A and the lower portion of the fi'ame being shown resting on the upper end of. an. upstanding wire carrier. which is. engaged by the frame and causes thefi'ame to be tripped and collapsed,.thereby causing the bundle of wire. on the frame to drop downwardly onto the carrier;

Fig. 6. is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the uppermost end of the carrier showing those portions of thetripping mechanism of the frame atlthe moment theyengage the carrier for the purpose of tripping the frame mechanism to cause the frame to collapse, the feet and legs of the frame mechanism being eliminated from this view for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 7 is'a horizontal cross-section taken substantially alongthe line 7-'7 in. Fig, 1 to show the construction and configuration of the upper part' of the frameg. the lower portion of the frame. and' the draw block being eliminated from this view for clearness of illustration; and

Fig, 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7taken substantially alongthe line.88' inFig. 1.

In the drawings numeral 10 designates, generally, a wire draw block rotatable about a vertical axis for pulling a wire 11 through-a drawing dieor the like (not shown) and for coiling the wire into-convolutions 12 which are to be collected to form a bundle of the wire. The block is mounted. upon apower driven shaft 13 (Fig. 2) which has a tapered upper portion 14 received in a correspondingly tapered axial opening 15. in the body of the draw block, the opening 15 .having a keyway 16 therein for receivinga suitable key formed on the tapered portion. 14 of. the shaft. comprises a friction drum-portionhavinga radially ex-. tending rim 17 thereon. The upper side'18 of'this rim tapers upwardly slightly and merges with the surface of a friction drum 19 which also is slightly tapered upwardly and inwardly. Above this friction drum the block is provided'with an intermediate conical portion'20 which tapers sharply upwardly and has a maximum diameter.

somewhat less than that ofthe upper end of the friction drum. Above the intermediate portion 20. the block has a truncated conical'top portion 2-1: formed thereon,. the

surface of this conical portiontapering upwardly at a much sharper angle than the surfaces of either the friction drum or the intermediate portion 20 of the block.

In-its operation the draw blockreceives the wire 11. at the lower end' of'the friction drum. After the first.

convolution is tightly wrapped around the drum at this location the oncoming wire 11, because of the slope of.

the surface 18 of the.rim 17, acts asa wedge to force the first convolution upwardly. This. wedging action con-- tinuously occurs asfurtherwireis received upon .the fric-- tion drum,,the oncoming wire always wedging itself onto the friction drumbetween the: surface 18. of. the rim 17 and the lowermost convolution of wire on the. drum. This wedging action causes the convolutions of wire, which are of.predetermined diametersubstantiallyequal to th'e,diameter of'the lower. part of the drum, to-be forced progressively upwardly off of the. friction drum. As the coil builds up, it will thus. be understood that the convolutions of wire are progressively forced upwardly in an axial direction oif'of the upperend of the block as shown in Fig. 2'.

The uppermost end of'the tapered portion 14 of the power driven shaft 13 extends upwardly above the top of the block andis threaded,,as at 22, to receive a cylindrical' post 2'3extending,upwardly inan axial direction.-

asf'sliown in Fig. 1. The post serves, along with other The lower part of the exterior of..the block.

4 structure, to support a" wire receiving frame above the draw block.

As best seen in Figs. 1 to 4, the body of the block is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending wells located concentrically about the axis of the block. Each of these wells has a pair ofsloping side walls 25 which converge. downwardly The back. of. each well is also defined by downwardly converging walls'27 and 28'which curve downwardly'andoutwardly with respect to the axis of the block; The tops ofthese. wells are' opened but the front walls 2% thereof are each provided with an open radially extending slot 29 which extends through. the body of the draw block andopens in the exterior surface of the block. It will be seen in Fig; 41that-the rear wall 28 of each well curves downwardly and outwardly to blend smoothly with the bottom 26 of each well. The sloping side walls 25 of each. well, on the other hand, terminate along, a horizontal edge Silabove the. bottom of'the well and from this edge 30 thereisavertical wall'31that' extendsdownwardly to the bottom 26, thereby forming a sl'ot' in the bottommost. portion of. the well which is aligned with the vertical open slot 29. This slot in the bottom of each well extends outwardly into the upper surface 18 of the. rim 17; the numeral 32' being applied to this extension of." the slot in the drawings.

Theframe for receiving andstripping convolutions of wire. from the draw block comprises a hollow cylindrical barrel 33' adapted. to be loosely received. upon the upst'andingpost 230i the draw block. A stationary lower yoke 34 is welded or otherwise secured upon the lowermost endof the barrel as-best shown in Fig. 2. The configuration of this yoke 34 is illustrated in Fig. 8 where it is. seen that the yoke is provided with four concentrically arranged radiallyv projecting arms 35, the outer ends ofwhich are. bifurcatedto provide a vertical slot 36 therein. inwardly from each slot therevis an opening, for receiving avertically disposed threaded bolt 37. adjustably securedin place on theyoke by nuts 38 and 39. If desired, awasher may be employed betweenthe nut 38 and the upper surface of the yoke 34, as shown in the drawings. The lower. end of each of the bolts 37 has. an eye 40 formed. thereon for rotatably receiv' ing a. pin 41. that extends through a rearwardly' directed, bifurcatedportion 42 of a foot designated generally by the numeral 43. bestseen. in Figs. 1; land 5B. The main upper body portion 44- ofeach foot is also bifurcated for pivotally receivingtthelower end of a leg-45' by means of a pivot pin 46, the bifurcation of this main upper body portion of. the foot. being outwardly directed continuation of the bifurcation of the rear portion 42 of the foot. single piece or, ifdesired, each foot maybe built up by welding; or otherwise securingtogether suitably shaped plates. In; any-event, the portions. 42:and 44 of the feet are integrally joined and: eachfoot is providedwith: a'

downwardly extending: body'portion: 47? preferably having a thickness somewhat lessthanthat of the upper portions' 42. andM; The: back edge 48. of each. foot curves downwardly and blends with the bottom edge 49'thcre of (Fig.15B) in a curve corresponding tothe configuration of. the. backzwallilii and the bottom 26' of each of the wells-in: the draw: block; Eaclrof the feet is also provided. with" an: outwardly-"extending toe 5i) formed integrally'with the lower portion 47 ofthe foot. As seen in Fig; 2, whenthe-frameisonthedraw block the lower-- most edge 49' of each footrestson'the bottom 26 of one of the wells and" the toe Silon" each foot projects outward'ly through the slot'.29. and into the slot extension'32 formed in the upper surfacev 18' of the radially directed. flange 17off the drawbloek,.theupper surfaceof each toe. beingdisposed slightly. belowthe surface-13st not..tointerfere-with.the-winding of the wire 11 onto the friction drum 19 of the block. The main upper body Eachof the feet has the configuration All of thepartstof' each footmay be. cast as a portion 44 of each foot has a thickness greater than the width of the slot 29 so that whenthe feet 43 rest in the wells, no part of the feet other than the toes 50 thereof may extend outwardly through the slots 29. The outer vertical edge 51 of each foot 43 preferably is spaced slightly from the adjacent inner wall 29a of the well of the draw block, as best seen in Fig. 2, when the feet are properly received in the wells.

The outer edge 52 of each upstanding leg 45 is rounde and, when the frame is resting on the block, these edges extend upwardly and inwardly at an angle with respect to the axis of the assembly. The upper portions of each leg are received in slots 53 (Fig. 7) formed in radially projecting arms 54 of a sliding yoke 55 that is disposed loosely about the upper portion of the barrel 33 so that the yoke may easily be moved in an axial direction along the barrel. Pins 54a pivotally secure the legs to the yoke, and for strengthening purposes the yoke may be provided with a downwardly extending flange 56 which, like the yoke itself, slides freely on the barrel 33. The yoke 55 on opposite sides of the barrel 33 is of increased thickness, as at 57, to provide the yoke with greater strength in those portions, and each portion of increased thickness is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 58 extending vertically therethrough. This arrangement of the slots 58 is best shown in Fig. 7, the forward wall'of the forwardmost slot being cut away in Figs. 1 and 5A. In each slot there is a roller 59 rotatably mounted on a shaft 60 that is journalled in the walls of the slot.

Below the yoke 55 U-shaped brackets 61 are welded or otherwise secured to the opposite sides of the barrel in upright position. A pivot pin 62 is provided in each of the brackets 61 and rotatably carries a latch member in the form of an L-shaped bell-crank 63 having an upwardly extending arm 63a and a laterally extending arm 63b. The uppermost ends of the arms 63a extend into the slots 58 and are provided with curved surfaces 64 formed thereon adapted to engage the rollers 59 and thereby support the yoke 55 in a raised position. The laterally extending arms 63b of the two L-shaped bellcranks 63 are cross joined by a bracing bar 65 which may be welded thereto. The outer ends of the arms 63!; also contain a transverse pivot pin 66 common to both arms which pivotally joins the arms respectively to the upper ends of a pair of diagonally and then downwardly extending trip rods 67, the lower ends of which are welded or otherwise secured to a tripping collar 68 that is slidably disposed around the lower end of the bar-' rel 33 above the lower yoke 34. In the condition of the assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this collar 68 lies on the upper surface of the stationary lower yoke 34, portions of the collar 68 about its periphery being recessed, as at 69 (Fig. 8), so as to avoid engagement with the nuts 38. Four equally spaced downwardly directed trip skirts 70 are formed on the periphery of the trip collar 68 and they normally extend downwardly past the stationary yoke 34 in the spaces between the radially extending arms 35 thereof.

From the description just given, it will be understood that upward pressure on the lower edge of any one of the downwardly extending trip skirts 70 will raise the trip collar 68 about the barrel 33 and thereby cause the L-shaped bell-cranks 63 to be pivoted about the pins 62 in a counterclockwise direction so as to cause the upper surfaces 64 of the arms 63a to disengage the rollers 59 on the movable yoke 55. As will be more fully explained below, this trips the frame mechanism and causes the frame to collapse to the position shown in Figs. 5A and 5B.

The barrel 33 has an upstanding hoist loop 71 welded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of its opened upper end by means of which the frame may be raised from and lowered onto the draw block 10. The frame assembly is normally in the collapsed condition shown in Figs. 5A and 53 when it is lowered upon the block.

In so lowering the frame, the open lower end of the barrel 33 is first guided onto the upper end of the upstanding post 23, whereupon further orientation of the frame with respect to the block takes place substantially automatically as the frame is lowered further. As the frame descends, the downwardly extending body portions 4-7 and toes 50 of the feet 43 come into contact with the sloping side walls 25 of the wells in the block. These sloping side walls act to turn the frame when necessary and guide the feet downwardly into proper position in the wells. As the frame approaches its seated position on the block, the curved lower and rear edges 49 and 48 of the feet engage the downwardly curved rear walls 28 of the wells, causing the feet progressively to be pivoted outwardly and upwardly about the pins 41 and causing the toes St) to extend through the slots 29 and into the slot extensions 32 provided in the upper surface 18 of the radially extending flange 17 on the lower portion of the block. As the final seating of the feet in the wells takes place, the undersides of the radially projecting arms 35 of the lower yoke 34 come to rest on upwardly projecting supports 72 formed on the upper main body portions 44 of the feet, the downward movement of the frame thereupon coming to a halt with the frame being supported in nested position in the block and in condition to be rotated with the block about its vertical axis.

During the outward pivotation of the feet about the pins 41 the legs 45 of the frame, which interlink the feet to the upper yoke 55, are also carried outwardly and upwardly, thereby raising the yoke 55 about the upper portion of the barrel 33. As the yoke 55 approaches its uppermost position the rollers 55! in the slots 58 of the yoke clear the side edges 630 of the upwardly extending arms 63a of the bell-cranks 63, thereby permitting the bell-cranks to pivot about the pins 62 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5A, to bring the upper ends 64 of the arms 63a into supporting position beneath the rollers 59. Prior to this clockwise motion of the bellcranks 63, the engagement of the rollers 59 with the edges 63s of the upstanding arms 63a will have retained the trip collar 68 in its upper or tripped position shown in Fig. 5B. However, as soon as the rollers 59 have cleared the edges 63c of the bell-cranks during the upward movement of the yoke 55, the weight of the trip collar 68, together with the weight of its trip skirts 70 and that of the upstanding connecting arms 67, causes the bell-cranks to be pivoted to bring the upper ends 64 into supporting position beneath the rollers 59.

With the frame settled in position on the block 10 and with the feet 43 and the legs 45 in their erected positions as just described, the assembly is prepared to wind the wire 11 into convolutions 12 that will be passed upwardly to be collected about the frame to form a bundle of wire. As previously indicated, the wire 11 is tightly wrapped around the friction drum 19 of the block and the wire is always fed onto the lowermost portion of the friction drum, the oncoming wire cooperating with the slightly upwardly tapered surface 18 of the flange 17 to be wedged onto the drum 19 below the lowermost convolution 12 thereon. This wedging action creates an upward thrust causing the convolutions of wire to be progressively forced upwardly off of the friction drum 13 and upwardly off of the slightly tapered intermediate portion 20 of the block. As these convolutions leave the,

intermediate portion 20 of the block they are received upon the uppermost conical formation 21 of the block and also on upwardly sloping surfaces 73 formed on the upper main body portion 44 of the feet 43, as shown in Fig. 2. Inasmuch as the convolutions of wire have a diameter substantially equal to that of the lower portion of the friction drum 19, the convolutions are loosely received on the upwardly sloping surfaces 73 of the feet. Many or most of these convolutions are disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the block and frame and thereby set up centrifugal forces bearing upon the surfaces 73. These centrifugal forces are resolved by the slope of the surfaces 73 into vertical components of force which materially assist the upward thrust (caused by the wedging of the wire onto the friction drum) to pass the convolutions of wire upwardly about the legs 45 which, in their erected condition, extend diagonally upwardly from the feet.

The continued upward motion of the convolutions as further wire is wound onto the friction drum 19 causes the previously formed convolutions to be raised and gathered about the frame and about the legs 45 thereof to form a bundle thereabout. Many or most of the convolutions comprising this bundle also are disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation and therefore exert a centrifugal force upon the outer edges 52 of the legs. The taper or inclination of the legs with respect to the vertical, however, minimizes the friction of the bundle on the legs 45 that would tend to oppose upward movement of the bundle about the frame. This avoids any appreciable tendency of the upward movement of the bundle to clutch and raise the frame with respect to the block, it being understood that any lifting of the frame during this stage of the operation would lift the toes 50 of the feet 43 upwardly out of the slots 32 in the rim 17 of the block and therefore interfere with further Winding of wire onto the block. The upward taper or slope of the outer edges 52 of the upstanding legs of the frame also, like the slope of the surfaces 73 on the feet, resolves the centrifugal forces exerted thereon into vertical components of force which further assist in raising the convolutions and the bundle of wire upwardly about the frame.

As a sizeable bundle becomes formed about the frame, a substantial portion of its dead weight is supported by the main upper body portions 4 of the feet and, more specifically, by the upwardly sloping surfaces '73 thereon, these surfaces being disposed above the top of the block and above the conical surface of the upper portion 21 of the block. This support of the bundle by the feet 43 materially reduces the opposition that the weight of the bundle would exert against the upwardly directed thrust produced by the wedging of the wire 11 onto the friction drum 19 of the block. The weight of the bundle on the feet 43 also serves to anchor the frame in its seated position on the block 10, thereby further assisting in overcoming any tendency that might otherwise exist for the progressive upward movement of the bundle to raise the frame off of the block. This factor plus the several other very important factors discussed above, permits the collection and formation upon the frame of very large bundles of wire at speeds of rotation materially in excess of any heretofore found to be practical with draw blocks and bundle collecting frames of this general type.

When a bundle of desired size has been collected upon the frame, rotation of the block and frame is discontinued and the wire 11 is cut. The entire frame with the bundle thereon is thereupon lifted from the block by means of the hoisting loop 71. As the frame is raised with respect to the block, the outwardly extending toes 59 on the feet 43 strip the convolutions of wire from the friction drum 19 and from the other portions of the block, the feet 43 and the outwardly projecting toes 5G assuming the entire obligation of supporting the bundle of wire as the frame is lifted. It will be noted that when the frame is lifted from the block, collapse of the feet 43 is prevented by the upwardly extending arms 63a of the bell-cranks which are in supporting engagement with the rollers 5; of the upper yoke 55, thereby retaining the upper yoke in its uppermost position.

The bundle of wire about the frame may be dropped, upon collapse of the frame, onto any suitable bundle receiving device. One such wire receiving device or carrier comprises a base 75 (Fig. 58) having thereon four upstanding legs 76, "7'7, 78 and 79 constructed of heavy pipe or the like. Each of the legs at its top may have an-inturned elbow thereon and below this elbow there is lowered so that the undersides of the legs 43 pass downwardly between the adjacent legs of the carrier and downwardly between the cross-pipes 31 and 82 thereof.

Continued lowering of the frame with respect to the carrier brings the lower edges of the trip skirts '70 of the trip collar 68 into contact with the cross members til and 82 as shown in Fig. 6. Further lowering of the frame causes upward pressure on one or all of these skirts sufficient to raise the Hip collar 68 about the barrel 33, thereby causing the bell-cranks 63 to be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5A) to carry the upper ends of the upstanding arms 63a out of supporting engagement with the rollers 59 of the upper yoke 55. This permits the yoke 55 to drop downwardly in the direction of the arrows 83 to the position shown in Fig. 5A and, simultaneously therewith, to cause the feet 43 to be pivoted inwardly and downwardly about the pins 41 to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 5B. This pivotation of the feet carries the upstanding legs 45 of the frame downwardly and their lower portions inwardly to their collapsed positions. The collapsing of the frame and feet permits the bundle about the frame to be dropped freely downwardly about the legs of the wire carrier and onto its base 75, thereby freeing the frame of the bundle and leaving the frame in its collapsed condition ready to be moved back and lowered again onto the draw block 10 in the manner previously described.

Although a small bundle of wire is shown being dropped from the frame onto the wire carrier in Fig. 513, this showing is made for purposes of illustration only and it will be understood that bundles formed about the frame to be deposited on the carrier may be, and ordinarily are, very much larger than the one shown.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be implied therefrom, for it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variations and changes may be made in the present apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a wire draw block rotatable about a vertical axis, including a friction drum portion on the exterior of the body of the block for winding wire into convolutions of predetermined diameter and for applying an upward thrust to said convolutions to force the same progressively upwardly in an axial direction off the upper end of said block, mechanism for receiving said convolutions of wire from said block, comprising: an upwardly tapered frame rotatable with said block about said axis and having its maximum transverse dimension at its lower end, said transverse dimension being substantially less than the diameter of said convolutions, a plurality of feet on said lower end of said frame supporting said frame in an upright manner above said block, and surfaces on said feet exposed above said block and sloping outwardly and downwardly from said frame for loosely receiving the convolutions of wire from said block and for slidably passing said convolutions in random disposition with respect to said axis upwardly about said frame to form a bundle of wire thereabout, said surfaces on said feet serving to support a substantial portion of the weight of said bundle, said weight thereby tending to anchor said frame on said block, and the taper of said frame serving to minimize any friction between said frame and said bundle that would tend to oppose upward movement of said bundle by said upward thrust, centrifugal forces created by convolutions of said Wire located eccentrically with respect to said axis during the rotation of said block and frame being partially resolved by the slope of said surfaces and the taper of said frame into vertical components of force assisting said thrust in raising said bundle about said frame.

2 In combination with a wire draw block rotatable about a vertical axis, including a friction drum portion on the exterior of the body of the block for winding wire into convolutions of predetermined diameter and for applying an upward thrust to said convolutions to force the same progressively upwardly in an axial direction off the upper end of said block, and walls defining a plurality of open-top downwardly extending wells located concentrically about said axis in the body of said block, mechanism for receiving said convolutions of wire from said block, comprising: an upwardly tapered frame having its maximum transverse dimension at its lower end, said transverse dimension being substantially less than the diameter of said convolutions, a plurality of feet on said lower end of said frame resting in said wells and supporting said frame in an upright manner above said block, and surfaces on said feet exposed above said block and slop-ing outwardly and downwardly from said frame for loosely receiving the convolutions of wire from said block and for slidably passing said convolutions in random disposition with respect to said axis upwardly about said frame to form a bundle of wire thereabout, said surfaces on said feet serving to support a substantial portion of the weight of said bundle, said weight thereby tending to anchor said frame on said block, and the taper of said frame serving to minimize any friction between said frame and said bundle that would tend to oppose upward movement of said bundle by said upward thrust, centrifugal forces created by convolutions of said wire located eccentrically with respect to said axis during the rotation of said block and frame being partially resolved by the slope of said surfaces and the taper of said frame into vertical components of force assisting said thrust in raising said bundle about said frame.

3. Mechanism for winding wire into a loose bundle, comprising a circular upstanding block rotatable about a vertical axis, a friction drum portion on the exterior of the body of the block for winding wire into convolutions of predetermined diameter and for applying an upward thrust to said convolutions to force the same progressively upwardly in an axial direction off the upper end of said block, an upwardly extending frame rotatable with said block about said axis, the maximum transverse dimension of said frame being substantially less than the diameter of said convolutions, a plurality of feet on the lower portion of said frame resting on said block and supporting said frame in an upright manner above said block, and surfaces on said feet exposed above said block and sloping outwardly and downwardly from said frame for loosely receiving the convolutions of wire from said block and for slidably passing said convolutions in random disposition with respect to said axis upwardly about said frame to form a bundle of wire thereabout, said surfaces on said feet serving to support a substantial portion of the weight of said bundle, said weight thereby tending to anchor said frame on said block, centrifugal forces created by convolutions of said wire located about said surfaces eccentrically with respect to said axis during rotation of said frame being partially resolved by the slope of said surfaces into vertical components of force tending further to anchor said frame on said block and tending to assist said upward thrust in raising said bundle with respect to said frame.

4. Mechanism for winding wire into a loose bundle, comprising a circular upstanding block rotatable about a vertical axis, a friction drum portion on the exterior of the body of the block for winding wire into eonvolw tions of predetermined diameter and for applying an upward thrust to said convolutions to force the same progressively upwardly in an axial direction off the upper end of said block, an upwardly extending frame rotatable with said block about said axis, the maximum transverse dimension of said frame being substantially less than the diameter of said convolutions, a plurality of feet on the lower portion of said frame resting on said block and supporting said frame in an upright manner above said block, surfaces on said feet exposed above said block and sloping outwardly and downwardly from said frame for loosely receiving the convolutions of wire from said block and for slidably passing said convolutions in random disposition with respect to said axis upwardly about said frame to form a bundle of wire thereabout, said sur faces on said feet serving to support a substantial portion of the weight of said bundle, said weight thereby tending to anchor said frame on said block, centrifugal forces created by convolutions of said wire located about said surfaces eccentrically with respect to said axis during rotation of said frame being partially resolved by the slope of said surfaces into vertical components of force tending further to anchor said frame on said block and tending to assist said upward thrust in raising said bundle with respect to said frame, outwardly projecting toe portions on said feet normally underlying the lowermost convolution of wire on said block, and means by which said feet and said frame with said bundle thereon may be lifted with respect to said block, said outwardly projecting toe portions being so constructed and arranged as to strip the convolutions of said wire from said block and to assist said surfaces in supporting said bundle when said feet and said frame are lifted from said block.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, including means for collapsing said feet with respect to said frame to permit said bundle to drop from said frame when said feet and said frame with said bundle thereon have been lifted from said block.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4, including means for simultaneously collapsing said feet and said frame to permit said bundle to drop therefrom when said feet and said frame with said bundle thereon have been lifted from said block.

7. Mechanism for receiving convolutions of wire from a wire draw block of the type that is rotatable about a vertical axis and has a friction drum portion thereon for winding wire into said convolutions and for applying an upward thrust thereto to force the convolutions progressively upwardly off the upper end of said block, comprising: an upstanding central frame portion, a vertically movable radially extending yoke on said central frame portion, said yoke having an upper position and a lower position, a plurality of legs pivotally secured to said yoke and extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of radially arranged feet pivotally attached to the lower ends of said legs and also pivotally secured to the lower end of said central frame member inwardly of said legs, sa d legs linking said feet to said yoke, said yoke and sald legs and feet being so constructed and arranged that when said yoke is in its said upper position said legs and said feet occupy erected positions wherein said legs extend diagonally outwardly and downwardly to said feet and said feet extend radially outwardly beyond the lower ends of said legs and when said yoke is moved from said upper position to said lower position said feet are pivoted downwardly and radially inwardly to a collapsed position and said legs are moved radially inwardly to a retracted position wherein they extend substantially vertically downwardly from said yoke to said legs, said feet in their said erected position being adapted to support said mechanism on said block for rotation therewith concentrically about said axis and in position wherein said convolutions from said block are loosely received about said legs to form a bundle of wire thereabout, including surfaces on said feet sloping outwardly and downwardly from locations adjacent said legs when said feet and said legs arein their said erected positions, for receiving said convolutions from saidvblock. and slidably passing the same. upwardly about said legs, said surfaces serving to support a substantialvportion of the weight of said bundle, centrifugal forces created by those. of' said convolutions located eccentrically with respect to said'axis during the rotation of said blockand said mechanism being partially resolved by the slope of said surfaces into vertical components of force tendingto raise-said convolutions upwardly aboutwsaid legs,

8. Mechanisrnfor receiving convolutions of'wire from a wire draw block of;the type that is rotatable. about a vertical axis and has a friction: drum portion thereon for winding wire into saidsconvolutions and for applying an upward. thrust thereto to. force. the convolutions progressively upwardly off the, upper end of said; block, comprising: an; upstanding central frame portion, averticallymovable radially extending yoke on said central frame portion, saidyoke'having an upper position anda lower position; a plurality of legs pivotally secured to said yoke and extending downwardly therefrom; a plurality 'ofiradially arranged feet pivotally. attached to the lower ends of saidlegs and also pivotally secured to the lower: end of said central frame member inwardly of said legs, said legs linking said feet to said yoke, said yoke and said legs and feet: being soconstructed and arrangedthat when-said'yoke is in its said'upper position said feet occupy erected positions extending outwardly beyond the lower ends of said legs and when said yoke is moved from said upper position to said lower position said feet are pivoted downwardly and-radially inwardly to collapsed positions, latch means movably mounted on said central frame portion and engageable withisaidyoke for supporting said yoke in its upper position thereby retaining said feet in their said erected said latchmeans includesa bell-crank pivotally mounted on said central frame portion and having an arm thereon,

extending upwardly in supporting engagementwith said yoke to support'thesame in its raised "position, and wherein said trip mechanism includes a plurality of trip surfaces disposed between each of said feet, upward'pressure on any one of said surfaces beingoperativ-e to-pivot' said bell-crank tomovesaid arm out of-supporting, engagement with saidyoke;

ll; Mechanism for receiving convolutions" of wire froma wire drawblock of the type thatis-rotatable about a vertical axis and has a friction drum portion thereon for winding wire into said convolutions and for applying aniupwardv thrust thereto to force the convolutions progressively'upwardly'off the-upper end of said block, comprising: an:upstanding cylindrical barrelmember; a radially extending upper yoke slidably mounted on said barrel. member for movement-between an upper position and a;lowerposition thereon, a radially extending lower yoke fixed'upon the lower end of said barrelrnernber, a plurality of. legs pivotaily secured;to said upper: yoke and extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality; of radially arrangedfeet pivotally attached to: thealowen endszof' said, legs and also-pivotally securedto said lower yoke: inwardly of. saidlegs, said legs linkinglsaidgfeet to: said: upper ypke; saidzupperyoke, and;.said legs and;feet'be:

ing so constructed and arranged that when said upper,

yoke is inits saidfupper position said feet occupy erected.

upper position to said lower position said feet arepivoted.

radially inwardly and downwardly to collapsed positions, a-bell-crank pivotally mounted on said barrel member below said upper yoke, a latch arm on said bell-crank adapted to extend substantially. vertically upwardly into supporting engagement with saidupper yoke for supporting said upper yoke in its upper position to retain said feet in their said erected positions, a vertically movable trip collar disposedabout the lower end of said barrel member above said lower yoke, means connecting said trip'collar to a second arm on'said bell-crank, and" a plurality of depending skirt members on said collaroverhanging said lower yoke and normally occupying positions between said erected feet, upward pressure on any one of said skirt members raising said collar and causing said bell-crank to be pivoted to move said latch arm out of supporting engagement with .said upper yoke, there by permitting said upper'yoke to drop to its lower position to cause said feet to pivot inwardly from. their said erected pOSltlOl'lSItO said collapsed positions.

12. Mechanism for receiving convolutions of wire from awire draw block of thetype' that isrotatable about a vertical axis and has a friction drum portion thereon for winding wire into said convolutions and for applying an upward thrust thereto to force the convolutions progressively upwardly off the upper end of said block, comprising: an upstanding cylindrical barrel member, a radially, extendingcupper yoke slidably mounted on said barrel member for movement between an upper position and a lower positionthereon, a radially'extending lower yoke fixed uponthe lower end of said barrel member, a plurality oflegs pivotally secured to said uppervyoke and extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of radially arranged feet pivotally attached to the lower ends of said legsand also pivotally secured to said lower yoke inwardly of said legs, said legs linking said feetzto saidlupper yoke, said upper yoke and said legs and feet being so constructed and arranged'that when said upper yoke is in its said upper position said feet occupy erected positions extending outwardly beyond the lower ends-of said legs and when said upper yoke is moved from said upper position to said lower position said feet are pivoted radially inwardlyand downwardly tocollapsed positions, a bell-crank pivotally mounted on said barrel mern ber below said upper yoke, a latch arm on said bell crank adapted to extend substantially vertically upwardly into supporting engagement with said upper yoke for supporting said upper yoke in its upper position to retain said feet in their said-erected positions, a projecting toe on each of said feet, said feet being adapted in their erected positionstosupport said mechanism on-said block for rotation therewith concentrically about said vertical axis'and imposition wherein said toes on said feet under lie the-lowermost convolution=of wire onsaid' block and wherein the convolutions discharged upwardly'from said block are looselyreceived aboutsaid legsto form a bundle of wire thereabout, means on-said barrel member by which said mechanism may be lifted from saidblock while said feet are retained by saidlatch arm' andsaidupper yok'e'in theirerected positions and while'said bundle of wire. is disposed about said legs, said-toes on said feetstripping the convolutions of wire from said'block and supporting at least a portion of the weight'of said bundle when saidmechanismiislifted, a vertically movable trip collar disposed about the-lower end of said. barrel mem-- of depending skirt members on.said:collaroverhanging' said lower' yoke and normally occupying positions: be-

tween: saidjerected; feet, upward:pressure. on anyone of saidisleirt members.raising:sai.d collaryand. CElBSiEgLSHiLl.

bell-crank to be pivoted to move said latch arm out of supporting engagement with said upper yoke, thereby permitting said upper yoke to drop from its upper position to its lower position to cause said feet to pivot inwardly from said erected positions to said collapsed positions and thereby drop said bundle of wire.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12, including surfaces on said feet sloping outwardly and downwardly from locations adjacent said legs when said feet are in said erected positions, said surfaces being adapted to receive the convolutions of wire from said block and slidably pass the same upwardly about said legs and being adapted to support a substantial portion of the weight of the bundle of wire formed about said legs by said convolutions, centrifugal forces created by those of said convolutions located eccentrically with respect to said axis during the rotation of said block and said mechanism being partially resolved by the slope of said surfaces into 14 vertical components of force tending to raise said convolutions upwardly about said legs.

14. The combination set forth in claim 12, wherein the outer edges of said legs slope outwardly and downwardly from said upper yoke to said feet when said feet are in their said erected positions, the slope of said edges serving to minimize any friction between said legs and said bundle of Wire that would tend to oppose upward movement of said bundle with respect to said legs dur- 10 ing the rotation of said block and said mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 2,044,574 Johnson June 16, 1936 2,598,572 Losinski May 27, 1952 2,658,611 Mcllvried Nov. 10, 1953 

